Commission to discuss term limits for Alabama legislators

The Alabama Constitutional Revision Commission will discuss legislative term limits next week. The commission is scheduled to meet in the Alabama State House at 10 a.m. on Dec. 3 to consider recommended changes to several articles of the Constitution.

The Associated Press

By Dana BeyerleMontgomery Bureau Chief

Published: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 4:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 4:33 p.m.

The commission is scheduled to meet in the Alabama State House at 10 a.m. on Dec. 3 to consider recommended changes to several articles of the Constitution. The meeting agenda includes the legislative article and articles on ethics, separation of powers and representation.

A public comment period is scheduled on local government issues including home rule.

“This time, we hear from the public what they want to talk about,” commission subcommittee chairman Matt Lembke said Tuesday.

In 2011, the state Senate created the joint committee to consider article-by-article rewrites of the constitution. Several articles have been presented to and changed by voters already.

The commission's final two meetings are Dec. 14 and Jan. 11, when a final report to the Legislature should be approved. The 2013 legislative session begins Feb. 5.

“It's my understanding that we're going to present three articles we've worked on this year prior to the beginning of the regular session,” Lembke said.

Lembke said the subcommittee originally recommended not to revive a discussion of term limits, but commission members Becky Gerritson, a Wetumpka tea party leader, and Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, supported term limits.

“Sen. (Bryan) Taylor expressed his view that term limits should be included,” Lembke said of the Prattville Republican. “The subcommittee did not come to a final decision because we wanted to hear from legislators who are ex-officio members.”

Lembke said he believes that voters should decide when to end the term of a legislator.

Todd said voters should be allowed to vote on term limits.

“It should not be up to us,” she said.

“I believe you can stay too long because it is easy after a while,” she said. “You need new blood.” She said various plans call for limiting lawmakers to three, four of five terms

Todd is in her second term and said she plans to run for a third in 2014.

The 12-member committee also will consider a minimum age for legislators, changing the length of legislative sessions and changing when legislators take office.

The current age minimum for a House member is 21 and 25 for a state senator. There has been discussion about lowering the minimum age to 18, which is also the minimum voting age, but Lembke said the subcommittee recommends keeping the current age minimums.

Legislative sessions can last no longer than 30 working days within 105 calendar days but the commission has been looking at alternative timetables.

The subcommittee also is studying whether legislative terms should continue to begin the day after the general election as they do now. Lembke said one of the arguments was that the official vote isn't even known then.

Suggested alternatives include waiting a month after the election or having legislators take office in early January.

“That will be changed,” Lembke said. “It doesn't make sense having people take office after the election when the results have not been certified.”

The commission's agenda in 2013 includes reviewing the declaration of rights, the executive department and the education articles. In 2014, the commission's charge is to review articles on impeachments, exemptions and miscellaneous issues.

Taxation was specifically excluded as a topic for review in the resolution.

<p>MONTGOMERY | The Alabama Constitutional Revision Commission will discuss legislative term limits next week.</p><p>The commission is scheduled to meet in the Alabama State House at 10 a.m. on Dec. 3 to consider recommended changes to several articles of the Constitution. The meeting agenda includes the legislative article and articles on ethics, separation of powers and representation.</p><p>A public comment period is scheduled on local government issues including home rule.</p><p>“This time, we hear from the public what they want to talk about,” commission subcommittee chairman Matt Lembke said Tuesday.</p><p>In 2011, the state Senate created the joint committee to consider article-by-article rewrites of the constitution. Several articles have been presented to and changed by voters already.</p><p>The commission's final two meetings are Dec. 14 and Jan. 11, when a final report to the Legislature should be approved. The 2013 legislative session begins Feb. 5.</p><p>“It's my understanding that we're going to present three articles we've worked on this year prior to the beginning of the regular session,” Lembke said.</p><p>Lembke said the subcommittee originally recommended not to revive a discussion of term limits, but commission members Becky Gerritson, a Wetumpka tea party leader, and Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, supported term limits.</p><p>“Sen. (Bryan) Taylor expressed his view that term limits should be included,” Lembke said of the Prattville Republican. “The subcommittee did not come to a final decision because we wanted to hear from legislators who are ex-officio members.”</p><p>Lembke said he believes that voters should decide when to end the term of a legislator.</p><p>Todd said voters should be allowed to vote on term limits. </p><p>“It should not be up to us,” she said.</p><p>“I believe you can stay too long because it is easy after a while,” she said. “You need new blood.” She said various plans call for limiting lawmakers to three, four of five terms</p><p>Todd is in her second term and said she plans to run for a third in 2014. </p><p>The 12-member committee also will consider a minimum age for legislators, changing the length of legislative sessions and changing when legislators take office.</p><p>The current age minimum for a House member is 21 and 25 for a state senator. There has been discussion about lowering the minimum age to 18, which is also the minimum voting age, but Lembke said the subcommittee recommends keeping the current age minimums.</p><p>Legislative sessions can last no longer than 30 working days within 105 calendar days but the commission has been looking at alternative timetables.</p><p>The subcommittee also is studying whether legislative terms should continue to begin the day after the general election as they do now. Lembke said one of the arguments was that the official vote isn't even known then.</p><p>Suggested alternatives include waiting a month after the election or having legislators take office in early January.</p><p>“That will be changed,” Lembke said. “It doesn't make sense having people take office after the election when the results have not been certified.”</p><p>The commission's agenda in 2013 includes reviewing the declaration of rights, the executive department and the education articles. In 2014, the commission's charge is to review articles on impeachments, exemptions and miscellaneous issues.</p><p>Taxation was specifically excluded as a topic for review in the resolution.</p>